Velo Orange Campeur

Velo Orange is now offering a complete bike assembled right in Annapolis, Maryland.  The Campeur is a camping bike made to carry heavy loads and be reliable when you are off the beaten path.

The frame is a Velo Orange design and has a level top tube, lugged fork crown, canti-brake mounts, pump peg, three water bottle mounts and room for 38mm tires with fenders.  The complete bike looks the VO part with a leather saddle, leather bar tape, 9x3 Shimano Deore drivetrain and a bunch of  quality parts.   The Campeur has some hard-to-find features:

• Level top tube, classic fork bend
• Quill stem
• Kickstand plate
• Dia-Compe friction bar-end shifters

For all of you kickstand lovers who are every-so-gently mounting your double-legged kickstand on your Surly Long Haul Trucker with rubber and clamps, this is your bike.   Seriously, the ride of the Campeur is supposed to be great, I can't wait to hit the road on one of these.    

Read more about the Campeur here and here.  The current price of the complete bike is $1600 (plus shipping).  Don't forget to add the new Campeur Racks to complete the build.

Campeur Complete Bike Build List:

Campeur Frame & Fork:	Sizes: 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 (Please specify size in the comment box.) More info here.
Rear Wheel:	Grand Cru 135mm Touring Hub, Diagonale Rim 36 hole
Front Wheel:	Grand Cru High Flange Hub, Diagonale Rim 36 hole
Tires:	700x35 Panaracer Tourguard
Shifters:	Dia-Compe Bar-Ends, Friction
Crankset:	Grand Cru Triple 48x34x24, 165mm (sizes 51 & 53), 170mm (sizes 55 & 57), 175mm (sizes 59 & 61)
Bottom Bracket:	Grand Cru 124mm, English thread
Cassette:	SRAM 9 Speed 11-32T
Rear Derailleur:	Deore 9 speed
Front Derailleur:	Sora Triple
Chain:	KMC X-9
Headset:	VO Roller Bearing
Stem:	VO Quill 90mm (sizes 51-55), 100mm (sizes 57-59), 110mm (size 61)
Handlebar:	Grand Cru Course Handlebar, 44cm (sizes 51-57), 46cm sizes (59 & 61)
Brakes:	Tektro CR720 Cantilevers
Brake Levers:	Tektro RL340
Seatpost:	Grand Cru 27.2
Saddle:	VO Model 3 Touring, Brown
Handlebar Tape:	Tressostar Cotton, Brown (not installed)
Pedals:	not included

Nashbar Steel Commuter Bike

Courtesy Nashbar.

The Nashbar Steel Commuter Bike is on liquidation sale at Nashbar and Amazon.com for $350.

I love the name of this bike because it matches the beautiful simplicity of the bike itself.   It's a clean, logo-free, all-chromoly bike with wide tires and an 8-speed Shimano nexus internal hub. It comes with a rear rack and fenders, although I would swap out the fenders for some that provide full coverage. 

Specs:

FRAME:	Chromoly, lugged
FORK:	Chromoly, 1" steerer, 14mm taper, 60mm offset
HEADSET:	1" threaded
REAR SHOCK:	N/A
CRANKSET:	38T chainring, 170mm length
BOTTOM BRACKET:	Square taper
SHIFTERS:	Nexus Revo SL-8S20
LEVERS:	Tektro RX1.0
HANDLEBAR:	525mm, 38° backsweep, 64mm rise, 25.4mm clamp
STEM:	22.2mm quill, 80mm extension, Length: 150mm (52cm frame), 180mm (56/60mm frame)
FRONT DERAILLEUR:	N/A
REAR DERAILLEUR:	N/A
CASSETTE:	Shimano KSMGEAR16S 16T
BRAKES:	Tektro R559 Dual Pivot
WHEELSET:	36H, 700c 36h anodized silver rims with CNC-machined sidewalls, Alloy front hub, 8-Speed Nexus internally geared rear hub
TIRES:	Kenda K-193 700x38
PEDALS:	Alloy
SEATPOST:	250x26.6mm (Medium), 250x27.2mm (Large)
SADDLE:	Velo
CHAIN:	KMC Z-410RB
GRIPS/TAPE:	Velo

Pashley Princess Sovereign

A Pashley Princess Sovereign comes with a wicker basket.  Courtesy: Pashley Cycles UK.

The Pashley Princess Sovereign retails for about 545 British pounds, which is roughly $867. In the U.S., however, expect the cost of this import to be over $1,000.  There are a growing number U.S. Pashley dealers, including Bicycle Space in Washington, D.C. 

A reader named Mary recently contacted us to ask about this bike because she saw one in her size on ebay.  In ebay parlance, that's a "find."  The Princess Sovereign is a lugged steel 5-speed (the Princess Classic is a 3-speed) that is basically the Rolls-Royce of bicycles.  Among other luxuries, it comes with a wicker basket, Brooks B66 sprung saddle, dynamo headlamp, chaincase and fenders, a rear rack, and prop stand.

Although we've discussed Pashley on Bikes For The Rest of Us, we've never discussed the Princess.  This bike, however, has been a hot topic on other blogs.  Here are a few to check out:

Lovely Bicycle!

Let's Go Ride A Bike

Bicycle! Bicycle!

Here are the specs per Pashley Cycles:

Frame sizes	17.5", 20" or 22.5"
Colour	Buckingham Black or Regency Green
Frame	Traditionally lugged and brazed
Fork	Tubular crown hand brazed
Gears	Sturmey Archer 5 speed hub gears
Wheels	26 inch with polished rims
Handlebar	Chrome plated raised bar
Brakes	Sturmey Archer hub brakes
Pedals	Alloy non-slip
Saddle	Antique brown Brooks B66s
Tyres	Schwalbe puncture resistant Marathon Plus with reflective sidewall.
Features	The Princess Sovereign features a traditional lugged frame and five speed hub gears with full chaincase, gold-lined mudguards, ding dong bell, hub driven dynamo headlamp, LED rear light, tubular alloy rear carrier, propstand, frame fit lock, skirt guards, leather sprung saddle and a wicker basket
Inside leg	17.5" frame suits 27.5" - 31.5" inside leg. 20" frame suits 30" - 34" inside leg. 22.5" frame suits 32.5" - 36.5" inside leg
Options	Leather accessory range
Terms and Conditions	Specifications and quoted prices may change without prior notice. Pashley Cycles terms of supply apply to all orders.

A Princess in Regency Green.  Courtesy Pashley Cycles UK.

Papillionaire Bicycles

Papillionaire Classic.  All photos are courtesy of Papillionaire Bicycles.

Papillionaire Bicycles was founded in Australia, but is now offering its chromoloy Dutch-style bikes in the United States and has opened a retail shop in Red Hook, Brooklyn. 

Papillionaire's Classic and Sommer models feature internal 3-speed Shimano hubs, fenders, chainguards (they describe them as "half chaincases") and leather saddles. Both bikes sell online starting at $549, currently with free shipping to celebrate their USA launch.

Specifications: Classic

Frame and Fork: Lugged chromoly (CRMO) steel

Frame size: 52cm (20.5″)

Gears: Nexus Shimano 3 speed internal hub.

Brakes: Tektro dual-pivot front and rear caliper brakes

Tyres: Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c (cream or gumwall)

Protectors: Mudguards and half chaincase

Finish: Crafted, durable leather saddles, grips, toe clips and other accessories

Papillionaire Sommer

Specifications: Sommer

Frame and Fork: Lugged chromoly (CRMO) steel

Frame size: 43cm (16.9″)

Gears: Nexus Shimano 3 speed internal hub.

Brakes: Tektro dual-pivot front and rear caliper brakes

Tyres: Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c (cream or gumwall)

Protectors: Mudguards and half chaincase

Finish: Crafted, durable leather saddles, grips & other accessories

The new Papillionaire shop in Brooklyn.

Who Lights Up Your Life, er... Bike?

Lezyne's mini-drive is small, but puts out up to 100 lumens.  Credit: Lezyne.

Is it true that Debby Boone was singing about her bicycle?

It's hard to keep up with the latest bicycle light technology these days (see my updated, yet already outdated, Bright Lights post), so I'm not even going to try.  Instead, why don't you tell us, in the comments, how you're lighting up your bike these days.

UPDATE: Last January, Mountain Bike Reviews did a great job reviewing and rating bike lights. If you're shopping for lights, it's a great place to start your research.

Bianchi Strada Metropoli

Metropoli Alivio

Metropoli Acera

Metropoli Acera Dama

The Strada line from Bianchi USA includes the three Metropoli models pictured above.  The Metropoli Alivio has 24-speeds (triple chainring + 8-speed rear cassette) and hydraulic disc brakes. The MSRP is $900.  The Metropoli Acera and Acera Dama are both 21-speeds (triple chainring + 7-speed cassette) with V-brakes.  The MSRP is $700 for an Acera.

Robert W., who told us about Virtue bikes, wrote us again recently about the Bianchi Cortina he was checking out.

Turismo Cortina.  All photos courtesy of Bianchi USA.

The Cortina is a nice enough bike, but it doesn't have the fenders and rear racks that the Metropoli models have, and it doesn't look like the Cortina is designed so that you can easily add racks and fenders.  Hopefully, Robert W. will send us a review of the Cortina after he test rides it.

The Metropoli and Turismo models are all Bianchi Strada bikes, which are Bianchi's "comfort bikes."  I've never been comfortable with the term "comfort bike."  I mean, who wants to ride a bike that's not comfortable?  But if "comfort bike" means an upright riding position with wide tires, then knock yourself out Bianchi, churn out more comfort bikes!

The Metropoli Alivio seems to be built for hilly country, or maybe San Francisco.  It has lots of gear combinations to get you up the steepest of hills, and powerful brakes so you can avoid hitting a streetcar at the bottom.  Here are the specs on the Alivio:

MODEL	Metropoli Due Alivio 24sp Hydraulic Disc
CODE	Y2BB8U
COLOR	Black
SIZES	43-47-51-55
FRAME	Metropoli Triple-Hydroformed, Butted Aluminum
FORK	Bianchi Aluminum 1 1/8"
HEADSET	FSA ZS4 Custom
SHIFTERS	Shimano Acera
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Alivio
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Alivio
CRANKSET	Shimano Tourney 48/38/28
CHAIN	KMC Z72
CASSETTE	Shimano Acera 8sp 11-32T
BRAKES	Shimano Alivio Hydraulic Disc
WHEELS	Alloy double-wall, 32H
TIRE	Spectra S-Amber 700 x 37
STEM	Bianchi alloy
HANDLEBAR	Bianchi alloy, 20mm rise
BAR TAPE / GRIPS	Herrmans Primergo Flite DD22B ergonomic
SEATPOST	Tec Obvius alloy
SADDLE	Selle San Marco Elba Arrowhead
PEDALS	VP-516A

The Metropoli Acera models have sufficient gear range for most terrain, and V-brakes have powerful-enough stopping power for most riders.  Here are the specs on the Acera Dama:

MODEL	Metropoli Uno Dama Acera 21sp
CODE	Y2BB0U
COLOR	Gray
SIZES	43-47
FRAME	Metropoli Triple-Hydroformed, Butted Aluminum
FORK	Bianchi Aluminum 1 1/8"
HEADSET	VP-A42E
SHIFTERS	Shimano Altus
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Acera
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Altus
CRANKSET	Shimano Tourney 48/38/28
CHAIN	KMC Z51
CASSETTE	Shimano Alivio 7sp 12-32T
BRAKES	V-Brake
WHEELS	Alloy double-wall, 32H
TIRE	Spectra S-Amber 700 x 37
STEM	Bianchi alloy
HANDLEBAR	Bianchi alloy, 20mm rise
BAR TAPE / GRIPS	Herrmans Primergo Flite DD22B ergonomic
SEATPOST	Tec Obvius alloy
SADDLE	Selle San Marco Elba Arrowhead
PEDALS	VP-516A

Your thoughts?

Opus Ivan

I first spotted Opus Bikes in a small shop in Canada.  The Opus Ivana, the loop-framed version of the bike above, appears on an ad on the back of Momentum Magazine this month.   The Opus Ivan, pictured above, is an Aluminum-framed city bike with upright geometry and a large front basket.  I think you'll agree it has a unique style that's somewhat contemporary while honoring the classic lines of a city bike. 

The really exciting news is that Opus bikes are coming to the USA! They have a large selection of practical transportation bikes.  Most of them have an Aluminum frame, which helps keep down the weight for those who have to carry their bike or climb hills.  As someone who rides a traditional city bike that weighs north of 50lbs, I find it appealing to have all of the city bike features in a more lightweight package.

Opus Ivan specs (provided by Opus):

Frame	Meta 10 Al-6061
Wheels	Shimano HBIM40 & SG7R46 Alex Z1000 26" Black SS spokes
Colour	Dark Silver
Weight	35.5lbs
Fork	ORA Urban CrMo 45mm - 1-1/8
Headset	CH-918TW integrated sealed
Handlebar	ORA Urban 70R X 50S
Stem	ORA 158, 80o, TIG,  25,4 Black
Grips	VLG617 Synth. leather - Brown
Shifters	NEXUS SL-7S10 REVO 7 speed Tektro CL330 BL - LF
Brakes	Shimano Nexave BR-IM50 Roller brakes
Bottom Bracket	CH-46-E Cartridge
Crank	PRO-A36 Single 36
Pedals	Wellgo LU-206T Flat
Front Derailleur	N/A
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Inter 7 Nexus Internal gear
Cogs	Inter 7 Nexus 7 speed
Chain	KMC-Z610
Tires	Innova 218 - 26" Black 26 X 2.0
Saddle	Ora Voyage Black/Brown
Seatpost	Ora 242 Aluminum Micrometric 27,2
Miscellaneous Parts	Fenders/rack/chain cover/kick stand

Virtue 6

Virtue 6 out and about. Photo courtesy of Virtue bikes.

The Virtue 6 sells for MSRP $ 399.

Special thanks to Robert W. for letting us know about Virtue bikes. Here is what Robert had to say after a test ride:

I took a Virtue Six for a test ride today. It’s a sweet bike, but not quite right for me. I love the look and it was a fun, smooth ride, but it weighs 28 lbs [with fenders] and is a 6-speed. I want a lower low gear to get around in San Francisco. I’m also of two minds about the lack of quick release wheels. They’re less likely to get stolen, but I’d need to carry a wrench. I also wish it had a chain guard. But the price is hard to beat — $425 for the one I tested. 

Virtue 6 with rear rack. Courtesy: Virtue Bikes.

I contacted Virtue and got the inside scoop from owner William Mulyadi.  He said he designed Virtue's first bike, the Virtue One, which came out in the mid-2000's, after asking bike shop customers about their ideal bike.

"It seems Pashley Guv'nor is the winner," William said.  "Knowing that many like the character and feel of the bike but quite limited on the budget, I designed the bike with that idea in mind. Then many requests came for gears [which led to the] Virtue Six; then ladies versions Curve 1 and Curve 6, etc."

Virtue Curve 6.  Courtesy: Virtue Bikes.

William explained that Virtue can keep its prices low (the 6-speeds are $399 and the 1-speed is $299) because they actually own the factories.

Here are the specs on the Virtue 6:

Gloss black full chromoly frame and fork (sizes: 52cm, 56cm, and 60cm)
Fender clearance
Alloy porteur handlebar
Alloy riser stem
Brown Velo stitch grips
Brown Velo riveted saddle
Silver alloy single crankset 46T 170mm
Silver alloy chain guard
Tektro CL530-RS brake levers
Tektro V-Brakes
Wellgo road pedals
Shimano SIS thumb shifter
Shimano Tourney rear derailleur
Shimano 6 speed freewheel 14-28T
Double wall black rims
700x32C Cream Kenda Kwest tires
Silver KMC chain
Front and rear fenders
Silver brass bell
*please note that size 52 and 56 come with quill stem, silver rims, and rear rack
*previous batch of Virtue Six with brown/white 700x32 Kenda tires and wide townie handlebar are still available

William has given me a preview of some other interesting models -- including a cargo bike -- that Virtue will be coming out with soon.  

Rivendell Betty Foy

A complete Betty Foy. Credit: Rivendell Bicycle Works.

Rivendell sells its Betty Foy mixte frameset for $1,050.  A frameset includes the frame, fork, headset, and bottom bracket.   A complete bike, without saddle or pedals, is estimated to cost $2,200, depending on parts.

While we're on the subject of mixtes, it seemed like a good idea to include the Betty Foy.  As with other Rivendell frames, the Betty Foy is high quality steel, with investment lugs.  The frameset is currently available in three sizes: 50, 55, and 60 cm.

Here is what Rivendell, i.e., Grant Petersen, has to say about the Betty Foy:

Clearance is key to the Foy.  It has enough to fit tires up to 40 mm wide, so it's good on rough roads.  It has clearance to take fenders easily, even with 40 mm tires, so it's the ideal foul weather commuter.  What you can do on a bike, you can do on your Betty Foy.

The name "Betty Foy" comes from a character in the Wordsworth poem "Idiot Boy" (go ahead, read it!).  This is a nice touch, given that there is something poetic about mixtes.

Advice Requested: Lightweight Step-Through

One of our readers is seeking some bike-buying advice.  Any ideas for her?

Hi,

My name's Jez, I live in London and need some advice on a bike for commuting. I'm looking for something with a step-through frame and with a lightweight frame. I know it doesn't need to be lightweight for speed as I'm only commuting but the bike I currently own is a hybrid and is really heavy and it's killing me carrying it up and down the steps to my home every day!

So light enough to carry, a step through frame and preferably not a sit-up and beg.

Any advice you have on a bike I could buy in London would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Jez

Raleigh Clubman Mixte

2013 Raleigh Clubman Mixte. Credit: Raleigh USA

For 2013, Raleigh is offering its Clubman as a mixte.  At this point, the price is TBD (check with your local Raleigh dealer).

Back in 2008, when this site was just getting underway, Raleigh USA decided to recapture Raleigh's glory days by producing some steel models.  Every year since then, Raleigh has come out with a "new" steel model.  In 2010, it was the Clubman, a name that harkens back to the all-steel era of Raleigh.  (Peter Kohler has an article on the original Clubmans here.)

There are many vintage Raleigh Clubman mixtes still on the road, and in a quick internet search I found a few for sale.  The old Clubman mixtes were quality bikes, as demontrated by the fact that they're still around after 50 or 60 years.  Nevertheless, when Raleigh decided to reintroduce the Clubman, it did not offer it as a mixte.  That oversight will be corrected in 2013.

We talk a lot about step-through bikes, but the term "mixte" has a more technical meaning.  Here's how Sheldon Brown defined "mixte":

A style of lady's frame in which the "top tube" consists of a pair of small diameter tubes running more-or-less straight from the upper head lug, past the seat tube, and on to the rear fork ends. A mixte frame thus has 3 sets of rear stays, instead of the usual two. A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays. A lady's type bike that lacks the middle pair of stays is not a mixte.

Mixte frames are stronger than conventional lady's frames, particularly in resisting the tendency of the seat tube to get pushed backward in the middle when ridden by a heavy rider.

In French, "mixte" is pronounced "MEExt", but normal U.S. bicycle industry pronunciation is "MIX-ty".

The 2013 Clubman MEExt has some nice retro stylings, such as a lugged fork, matching painted fenders, and a Brooks Swift saddle.  Given the retro-cool vibe I think Raleigh is going for, I'm a bit surprised that it comes with STI levers.  I would have gone with something more retro (what's wrong with downtube shifters?), but I'm sure that places me in the minority.  In any event, as I said before, you can still find vintage Clubman mixtes if that's what you're after.

Here are the full specs on the 2013 Clubman mixte:

Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG , 59cm LG, 62cm XL 

Frame: Reynolds 520 Butted Chromoly Tubing 

Fork: 4130 Chromoly Lugged Road  

Cranks: Shimano Tiagra FC-4650 2pc 50/34t 

BB: Shimano Outboard Bearing 

F.Derail: Shimano Tiagra FD-4600 

R.Derail: Shimano Tiagra RD-4601 

Shifter: Shimano Tiagra ST-4600 10spd STI, Shimano SP41 Shift housing  

Br.Levers: Shimano Tiagra STI 

Brakes: Tektro R539 Dual Pivot Long Reach w/Cartridge Pads 

Gear: Shimano Tiagra CS-4600 10spd (12-30t)  

Rims: Weinmann TR18 Double Wall 

Tires: Vittoria Zaffiro 700x25c 

Pedals: Steel Clips w/Leather Straps 

Handlebar: Classic Aluminum Drop 26.0 

Stem: Alloy 3D Forged Ahead 26.0 

Seatpost: Alloy Micro Adjust 27.2x350mm 

Seat: Brooks Swift w/Chromoly Rails 

Headset: Ahead 1-1/8" w/Alloy Cup

Colors: Ivory

 

Chain: Shimano Tiagra CN-4601  

Hubset: (F) Shimano Tiagra HB-4600 QR 32h (R) Shimano Tiagra HB-4600 QR 32h Cassette   

Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples 

Grips: Gel Tape 

Extras: Fenders, Rack and Fender Mounts, Water Bottle Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner's Manual  

Note: Specifications are Subject to Change

TransIt Cameron

2010 Transit Cameron. Credit:Performance Bike

In this guest post, Adam Zipperer gives us his first impressions of the 2010 TransIt Cameron, which was on sale at Performance Bike for $549.  He had been considering the Torker Graduate "for the hub, non-rim brakes, and price." He felt that the Cameron might have a better hub.  Here is Adam's report:

Alright just got it in and immediately took it for a 10 or 12 mile ride.

At this price, the competition in my mind include the Torker Graduate and the Breezer Downtown.

The Transit Cameron features the following:

SRAM iMotion 9 IGH with grip shift Tektro Lyra mechanical disc brakes (the left brake lever has an integrated bell, cool!)

Full set of plastic fenders Chain guard Mount points for rear rack (I think a front would have to share the rear/bottom holes with the fenders, or mount with the skewer)

Adjustable angle stem

Performance has these on closeout right now for $550. I also considered the Graduate, but not the Breezer because it has rim brakes. I was really looking for something that was weatherproof. I think I'd prefer the Torker's drum brakes to these discs, but I can't pick too much.

So the pros and cons on my admittedly short first impression.

Pros:

inexpensive (especially considering the hub)
semi-weather-proof brakes
pretty light frame
Comes with a bell
Comes with a chain guard, just a metal bar on the top part of the chain
Good gear range
Good upright riding position
Adjustable stem

Cons:

Disc brakes make noise (when not braking). I'll try adjusting them to see if they do any better. I'm really not impressed with the braking power of the discs, they may get better with break in though

It has fairly wide tires (700x38), but the fenders just barely cover them width wise. We'll have to see with some rain how good they do.

The leather saddle looks neat (like a knock-off Brooks). It's REALLY hard now, and from what I hear, I can't expect much break-in

The black leather "grips" are cheesy, they slip and slide around

The bars are a bit too swept back for my taste, but I may get used to that.

The frame is stiff. Maybe it's just the stiff saddle, but I swear its the stiffest bike I own

In summary, I'm going to give the bike a few more days to convince me, but I think I may be returning it for a Torker Graduate.

Thanks, Adam. We look forward to an update!

Update from Adam:

After riding the Cameron a few more times, I decided it was not the bike for me. I'm not saying it's a bad bike. It's just not quite what I was looking for. As luck would have it, the LBS that sells Torker happened to have a Graduate on the floor and it happened to be my size (they haven't had a single Graduate since I've been looking for ~5 months). I'm very happy with it, excited in fact! It fits me better and that's important to me. 

There is no question in my mind that the SRAM 9 speed IGH on the Transit Cameron is a superior hub to the Sturmey Archer 5 speed on the Torker Graduate. The SRAM hub shifts smoother and has a wider gear range. They're also closer together making it easier to find the "right" gear. However, in my opinion, the Cameron needs probably a few hundred more dollars in parts and upgrades to provide the out-of-the-box goodness that the Torker does. For example, it would immediately need a new saddle and grips. 

Also, the disc brakes were pretty lousy. The drum brakes on the Torker Graduate are buttery smooth and provide superior confidence when riding in traffic. The Torker frame/wheel/tire/saddle combination is also significantly more comfortable as far as vibration is concerned. That could be entirely related to the better saddle on the Torker than the one I complained about on the Cameron, but I liked being able to buy a bike and immediately ride it (and plan to for months if not years) without making any changes whatsoever. Well, other than a Wald basket for "groceries" (and by that I mean exclusively beer).

I'd like to make a couple comments on the Torker Graduate, as I'd read a good many reviews before deciding on that bike. Firstly, I love the bike. It is awesome and makes commuting an enjoyable experience and not just a chore before getting to work. It's very comfortable, great upright (but not too upright) riding position. The bars are the perfect width, rise, and sweep for my style. The brakes are quite good, I can't wait til it rains so I can appreciate the lack of wet-rim-brake-squeal. 

I'm sold on the idea of IGH's for commuting bikes, shifting at a stop light/sign is just so nice. The only complaint I have about the bike is the Sturmey Archer 5 speed shifter. It shifts well, very direct and obvious engagement. But, the travel is a bit long, and mine is somewhat difficult to get into 1st gear. Just needs a little more effort than the others. That could just be the one I've got, or it could go away with break-in, time will tell.

All in all, for those on a budget, I would say the Torker Graduate makes the ideal commuter.

I'll leave you with this question: why don't more commuter/town/urban bikes have drum brakes? They seem perfectly suited for that application, but I really don't see them on any bikes!

Happy Riding,
Adam